CHESTER, Pa. (Apr. 5, 2017) – Junior Katie Rabuck (Hegins, Pa.) threw a nine-inning shutout in the circle to lead the Widener University softball team to a 1-0 win over Arcadia in the first game of a doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon. The Knights regrouped to win the second game by a 3-2 score and earn the split.
 
Both teams had plenty of opportunities to score while Widener's Rabuck and Arcadia's Kylee Schwind were locked into a pitcher's duel which lasted beyond the traditional seven frames. The Knights loaded the bases with one out in the top of the second, but Rabuck got out of trouble by inducing a flyout and a groundout to end the frame.
 
Each team had one hit through the first four frames until Widener's bats started to come alive in the bottom of the fifth. Rabuck hit a leadoff single down the line in left, moved over to second on a single by Carli Benozich (Drexel Hill, Pa.) and then senior Ally Horvath (Chalfont, Pa.) drew a walk to load the bases with two outs. Schwind, however, ended the threat by inducing a groundout to keep the game scoreless.
 
Widener left two runners on base in the sixth, seventh and eighth frames before finally breaking through in the bottom of the ninth by electing to play small ball. Senior Nicole Burt (Staten Island, N.Y.) hit a bunt single to get things going before Horvath reached first by hitting into a fielder's choice. Horvath then stole two bases to move within 60 feet of scoring the winning run, and freshman Jamie Gosselin (Abington, Pa.) successfully laid down a bunt single to the pitcher to plate Horvath in walk-off fashion.
 
Rabuck improved to 6-3 this season for Widener by throwing a nine-inning shutout and only allowing three hits, which were all singles. She also registered four strikeouts. Arcadia's Schwind, who threw 150 pitches, suffered the tough-luck loss. She surrendered nine hits and one run, which was earned, while punching out 10 Pride hitters and issuing three walks.
 
Arcadia (15-5, MAC Commonwealth 5-1) quickly jumped on the board in the nightcap, as Jackie Bilotti ripped a leadoff triple and came home two plays later on a groundout. After Widener evened the score on a Knight throwing error, the visitors moved ahead again by scoring twice in the top of the third when Bilotti blasted a two-run homer.
 
Despite falling behind for the second time, Widener fought back and was able to slice the deficit in half in the bottom of the sixth. Horvath got things going in the frame by singling through the left side, stealing second and advancing to third on a wild pitch. She then came home when junior Lauren DelRomano (Broomall, Pa.) rocketed a single up the middle. Mary Pat Murray, however, induced a flyout to center on the next play to end the inning and retired the side in order during the next frame to help the Knights earn the split.
 
Arcadia's Murray earned the win in the circle and went the distance to improve her record to 6-1 this season. She gave up five hits, two runs and struck out three while not issuing a walk. Horvath took the loss to drop to 7-2 after yielding seven hits and three runs, which were all earned, while striking out eight and walking only one.
 
Widener (15-7, MAC Commonwealth 4-2) continues conference play when it visits Hood on Saturday, Apr. 8 at 2:00 p.m.